Planter marker



March 27, 1951 H. WHITE ETAL 2,546,412

PLANTER MARKER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3729 FIG. I 5 zlg lIN 38 I74 I; 318 22 N his 5 6 VEN TOR.

S H. WHITE B OEHLER A TTORNE Y5.

March 27, 1951 c. H. WHITE ETAL 2,546,412

PLANTER MARKER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I27 INVENTOR.

CHARLES H. WHITE ILLIAM P. OEHLER Patented Mar. 27, 1951 2-7"'CIa'i1iis.

"Thefpr's'ent jinvention 'xfelat'es g'nral lyQto :aiichlt'urflimplements "and 'mcre fiai ticuhtfly to i planters "and other "machinesemploying a ground enga in marker cr markers. v

The object "and general 'nature'. of the pfesei'it i invention is thelprox' isib n of a tractor propelled planter [wherein i the markers "areControlled by it'he't'lirning 6f the'tratorreltiVe to thepla'nti'.fHe'r'etofo're, "tiactdr planters having markers Th'a've been"e'enst'rueted so that the markers ere "controlled 'By "a. lrai'sing and"I'ciwer'ing f the i'plajnter' Shoes 161' furrew "open rs. 'Fdifexairiple, in the UnitedStdts Patent No. 2;- 376;4'64, is'sue'dMay22,1'94'5, 150 Charles H. White, therefissh'dwn fa inafl fe'ic'cintrcl mechanism of the type in" which ilait'ch means 'hol'dsf both"markers in an elevated 'psitidn,'\'vith"the latches altei nately'beingr'erees-ed? b'y si'iccessixl e' operations fof the raising andlo'wefir'ig m'eai'lis. However, it "is so'r'rieti'ins d'eisiiableto'beable t'o r aisean'd lower'thei'planter Y'sh os 'witho'i'it having the"markers rei/"elisecl. With'this in mind, 'th'ei'pri'n'c ip'alfeetureofthe presentinventidn is theprbvisi'onbf .a ma'lfker 'cdntrolthat is "actuated by the turning of fth'e tractor, in either direction,through "a v given ext'nt' f'dr eidei'a tihg them'arkr 'ontrdls. More sfiall'y, it is "a' bi'ine'iiial "feet'u e bf "this "in- Tzhgontobietiiiea mafia-er fdntrol niecha sin which is'rspdnsive t0"the"t1'n"ni ng""0fithe :tiact'or fielaitive "to "the implement fer c'6nti611in'g"the Iinar'kers, "and inwhich the connection with the 'tra'cto'r involves onlya single elnierit, pfeferiabljvin the'form cif'a chainwhichmayheeonnected with a part-of the tractor 'si mply a'nd T'esil'y.

These and o'ther objects of' the. p'iesent invention will be "apparentto thoseskilled in thegirt 'afterj'a, consideration ofith'e following'jdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the aceempany ngdiawin'gs in iwhich one "preferred "form ofthe inventidnhai's ldeenillns'trette d.

flnthedrawingsz e r I Figure 1 is a 'f egine ntary plan View Of {thetractor planter'of" the towedtype, in *vthichthe principles of thepresent inventionvhaver'been ine'crpOrated. I

. Figure 2 is a fragmentar emerged view 6 f the p'artsicf amarkepcontrblwhich are carried (an a central rareportidn 'o'f ith'efplagntr.

Figuiei; is'ase'ctional View taken 'gner'afly alcng'the line .33 ofFigure 2, H "lii'giir 'e' 4 is a' sectional tiew'takenelcngthe line -'4'4 dfFig'u're' l,"sh ')'w ing f-pdrticns (if the mar er cbntrol mechanismthat *ajre carried on the ftreict'or.

of the hitch frame 3.

latch controlling rod 38. In Figure 2, the righthand rod is indicated bythe numeral 38'. A spring 4! bears at one end against the horizontalflange of the angle 22 and at the other end against the detent 33,tending to cause the latter to engage the notch in the bracket 21. Thespring 4i thus serves as means biasing the latch 29 for engagement inthe marker bracket notch 34.

The planter is equipped with a power lift unit indicated fragmentarilyby the reference numeral 50. The power lift unit preferably is tractiondriven and may be of any suitable construction, preferably like thatshown in the White patent identified above. Briefly, power lift unit 50includes a crank arm 5| carrying a block 52 in which a swinging link orarm 53 is disposed, this linkage being preferably in the form of aWhitworth quick return linkage. The arm 53 carries a plate 54 to which aplurality of chains 55 are connected. The chains 55 are carriedlaterally outwardly along the main frame angle 22 and are connected withthe rear ends of the several furrow openers (not shown). Thus, theoperation of the power unit 56 serves to raise and lower the furrowopeners. A marker arm lifting chain 56 (Figure 5) is connected betweenthe adjacent lifting chain 55 and at its outer end is connected to alink 58 which, with a spring 59, forms a cushioned connection betweenthe marker arm lifting chain 55 and associated marker arm. When thelifting arm 53 is swung forwardly to raise the furrow openers bothmarker arms 2| are also raised, the latches 33 moving into theassociated notches 34 for locking the marker arms in their raisedposition.

According to the principles of the present invention, the marker rods 38extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer ends of the frame arecontrolled by mechanism that responds to the turning of the tractorrelative to the implement. In Figure 1, the tractor is represented bythe tractor drawbar 60, and-as best shown in Figure 4, the forward endsof the hitch frame bars 4 and 5 are formed in forwardly convergingrelation and apertured to receive the upper and lower halves 62 and 63ofa socket member which is trunnioned in the forward nds 7 Received bythe socket members 62, 63 is the ball end 65 of a hitch connection 66,the lower end of which is in the form of a threaded shank 61 thatextends downwardly through an opening in the tractor drawbar 66. Aturning bar 68 is fixed, as by welding, to the shank 61, and a nut 69 isthreaded onto the lower end of the shank 61 so that, when tightened,both the ball 65 and the turning bar 68 are rigidly and securelyconnected to the tractor drawbar so as to turn therewith when thetractor turns relative to the implement.

A stud H is fixed to the outer end of the turning bar 68 and receivesthe forward end of a chain '12 that extends rearwardly alongside thehitch frame 3 and passes over a sheave 13 carried by a bracket 14 on therear frame angle 22. The chain 12 is then extended laterally outwardlytoward the left of the machine where its end is connected to a spring 16that, in turn, is anchored to a bracket 11 fixed tothe left portion ofthe rear frame angle 22. The function of the spring 16 will be explainedbelow in detail.

, The two marker control rods 38 and 38' extend laterally inwardly alongthe rear frame angle 22 and have their laterally inner ends threaded toreceive a pair of lock nuts 8] and 82 which serve 4 as abutments at theinner ends of the rods 38 and react against the upturned ends 84 and84', through the openings in which the inner ends of the rods 38 pass,of a yoke member 85 that is pivotally supported, as at 86, on the rearend of a laterally swingable toggle lever 81 which is mounted on a pivot88 on a bracket 89 carried by the frame angle 22, as best shown inFigure 2. The yoke 85 constitutes a central section of the connectingmeans extending transversely from one marker latch to the other and isdisposed transversely of the planter, being shiftable transversely inone direction or the other by the lever 81 to shift the rods 38 tocontrol the marker latches. A spring 92 is connected at its forward endto a hook 93 which is carried at the front end of the toggle lever 81,the latter being apertured, as at 94, to provide for the passage of theturning control chain [2 therethrough. The other end of the spring 92 isanchored to a vertically extending rod 96 which is Welded or otherwisesecured to or formed on the rear portion of the bracket 89, as bestshown in Figure 3. The anchor 96 is disposed in the generally verticallongitudinal plane of the pivot 88 but rearwardly of the pivot, so thatthe action of the spring 92 is to tend to hold the toggle lever 8'!either in one position or the other, the terminal positions of thetoggle lever 6?! being determined by the fact that the laterally inwardmovement of each of the latch rods 38 and 38' is limited by the spring4| (Figure 5) and associated parts serving to limit the upward swingingof the detent 33. A pair of abutment members 91, which may be in theform of cotters engaged to certain of the links of the chain 12, aredisposed on oppositesides of the toggle arm 81. In operation, whenever,for example, the tractor turns to the left, the arm 68 exerts a forwardpull on the chain 12 which tends to pull the cotter 91 toward the rightside of the machine (toward the left side of Figure l and the right sideof Figure 2). As soon as the movement of the chain 12 is sufficient tobring the toggle lever 8'! slightly past its dead center position, thespring 92 completes the movement of the toggle lever 81, swinging thesame toward the left as viewed in Figure 2 which thus releases theleft-hand latch rod 38 for movement toward the left hand latch,permitting it to release its latch 33 for engagement with the bracket 21on the associated marker arm 2|, thus holding the latter in position.The above mentioned movement of the lever 81 in shifting the yoke 85 tothe left, as viewed in Figure 2, results in the right end 84' of theyoke 85 shifting the other latch rod 38 laterally inwardly, thus pullingthe right hand latch 33 up out of the notch 34 in the bracket 21, whichreleases the right hand marker arm and permits the same to lower at anytime that the power lift unit 56 is operated to swing the arm 53rearwardly to lower the furrow openers, thus automatically lowering themarker arm when the tools or furrow openers are lowered.

If the tractor should be turned in the other direction, namely, to theright, the rearward swinging of the turning bar 38 permits the spring 16to pull the rear end of the chain 12 in theother direction, thusbringing the cotter 98 against the toggle lever 81 (in a positionopposite to that shown in Figure 2) until the amount of turning has beensufilcient to cause. the cotter 98 to shift the toggle lever 81 slightlybeyond this over-center position, after which it snaps over into thefull line position shown in Figure 2, thus -i'-.versir g the markercontrol. "The lever '81 and spring 92 thus constitutesnap actionmechanism fo quickly shifting the latches 29.

It w ll be noted'that there is some'lost motion only between the cotters9! and 98 and the rear end of the "toggle lever 81, but also between hees 38 andthe ends-84 of the shifting -yok-e .jqeterrninedeainount; suchas, for example, 30 degrees, the toggle lever 81 is swung from one s eto the other: whichchangesthe positions of rods 38 andthe'associatd'marker arm'detems "so that when the tools are lowered theopposite marker 1 arm-will be lewered into ground contacting-position.In normal operation the tractor is turned in one direction at one end ofthe field and in the opposite direction at the other end of the fieldwhereby first one marker latch is operated to permit'onemarker arm tolower and the other'latch is operated subsequently at the other end ofthe field to permit the other markerarm to lower, this occurringalternately. yet-the furrow openers may beraised and lowered duringnormalforward travel without in any way affecting the markers, thisbeing necessary when it is desired to cross grass strips, terraces andthe like,

The structure shown and described above is particularly adaptable to aplanterof the our row type, such-as is disclosed" in the above-mentionedWhite patent, where the marker arms are fairly long and rather heavyand-in which it is desirable to control them by direct connection tothe'powerlift-arm, with the turn control described above operating onlyon the-latches which are alternately used-t6 hold one orthe other of themarker arms in elevated position. Intwo' row planters where the markerarms are --f airly short; the turn control may act directly on-thechains that extend laterally outwardly to the marker arms and thedetentlatches and associated parts, shown-in Figures 1 -et -seq., may beeliminated.

' Turning now to the invention shown in Figures fi et seqq the referencenumeral I9I indi- "oates a two row planter which includes a frame I02and a pair of relatively short marker arms I03 whichare pivoted to theends of the frame IO :2 in substantially the same manner as describedabove in connection with the planter I. The

-planter. -I 9I is provideclwith a power lift unitIflB which issubstantiall-ythe same as the power lift unit 59. The unit I-fl5includesa crank-member 06 -formiiiga part of a Wh-itworth quick return linkagewhich also includes an arm Ill-I connectedby a link I08 to a yoke I99whichcar-ries a'sheave I II. A chain -I I2 is trained about the sheaveIII and has one end portion H3 connected by a hook or other connector M4to the right hand marker arm I93, and the other end -I I5 of the chainH2 is connected by a hook or otherconnector II-l to the left handmarkerarm I 03. I -he length of the chain II-2 is such that when the powerlift unit I 95 is operated toraisc the planter units ---P both of themarker arms IIl3 are raised andare held by the chain H2 in their-raisedposition.

When it is desired to place the planterin oper- =-ation, the power liftunit I95 is operated-to lower "-thewplanter units 3 and at this --timeit is desired 6 also-to'lewer one-or the other ofi the'marker arms I03but -;to hold the opposite marker arm in-an elevated --position.Referring first to Figure "9, it will be noted that the right and 'leftportions I I3 and I I-6 of the-chain -';I I-2 are extended later allyinwardly and pass over sheaves -IZI and 1 22 that are supported onbearing'bushings or the like carried by a pair of attaching bolts I24and I25. As best shown in Figure *8, the frame I02 includes a rear anglemember I27, and secured to the rearverticalfiangeI28 of=the angle memberI2! ina bracket in the'form of a Toasting I29 which serves as a supportforthesheave bear ings and associated parts. Specifically, thehorizontal portion I3I of the Toasting I29 is provided with a centralopening I32 which receives the lower endof the bolt I24. A hearingbushing I35 is clamped between the section I3I of the bracket I29 and anupper plate I36, which is also apertured to receive the'boltI24. Ashortspacer I3! "is disposedabove'the plate I36-and below :a similarplate I38, also operative to receive the bolt I24. A bushing I39,similar to the bushing I35, receives the upper sheave HI and bears atits lower end against the plate I3I and at its upper end against anupper plate MI. When the nut I42 on the bolt I24 is tightened, theseparts are firmly fixed to the bracket I29. Thelatter is secured to theframe angle I21 by oneor more cap screws I94. A lower sheave I45 isdisposed for rotation on the bushing I35 and receives-a lower chain Iwhich is connected at its ends Wi h pl ntin :uni sP and a i sinterrndiate porti n pa ses r nd a sheave b l w the h a e III (Figure v6)carried by the yoke I99. sheave I22 and a l wershe ve imilar to t e shave vvI45 are support d (in-the pla es 1.3. 1.3.8 and HI, and the T castn 29 in the ome manner as described-for the sheaves I.2 I and 145.

.Asbest h wn i i u es 8 ands, alatc m mber in the form of a detent I5Iis provided with a pair of trunnions I52 and I53 which are rece ved i pn n s I54 and .155 rmed, respectively, in the pla es I33 a d 14! wherebyth la ch o d tent I5 s sw n ab between t e two positionslsh wnin F u e 9in ul and dot ted lines, r s ectively. The detec or lat h m mber I5! isformed with a chain-en a in no portion I51 and a tall or hook po tion153. A spring I59 engages the portion I58 and at its forwardend isanchored to a clip IBI carried by t ppe p a MI, as best sh wn in-:Fieure The detent I5I and spring I59 thus constitute snap actionmechanism for quickly reversing the marker control. The detent [5] alsohas an opening I63 through which a--turn control chain I34 e tends. Thechain L64is trained over ,a sheave J65 carried by a :bolt I66 on theframe angle I2], and the chain I154 extends forwardly and is connectedto a turn bar, substantially identical for all practical purposes to theturn control bar 98 shown in Figure l. The rear end .Of the turn controlchain .164 is connected to the right end of a spring I61, the left endof; which is connected, as at vI58, to the rear frame angle I27. Therear end of the. chain 194 extends through the opening I63 in the latchdetent I51, The chain carries a pair of abutments, preferably in theform of two cotters III so spaced that after the tractor turns through apredetermined amount, one or the other of the cotters III will swing thelatch detent from one position to the other, causing thenoseI51-to lockone or the other of the portions of the chain I I2, against theassociated sheaveandth'ushold the associated marker in a raisedposition, permitting the other marker to lower. This arrangement whereinthe marker raising and lowering chain is locked directly to the planterframe is somewhat simpler and more inexpensive than the arrangementshown in Figure l where in the turn control chain controls the markerlatches.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is tobe understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particulardetails shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely differentmeans may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of ourinvention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a planter adapted to be connected to a tractor in towed relation,said planter having a pair of marker arms, the combination of means forraising both of said marker arms into an inoperative position, saidmeans including a connection extending to each arm, latch meanscooperating with said connections and movable into alternate positionsfor locking one or the other of said arms against movement, and meansresponsive to the turning of the tractor relative to the planter beyonda given position for op erating said latch means to shift the latterfrom one position to another.

2. In combination, a towed planter adapted to be connected to a tractorand to turn laterally relative to the latter, a pair of generallyvertically swingable marker arms, alternately operable means for lockingone or the other of said arms in elevated position, and means forcontrolling said alternately operable locking means comprising a turnbar adapted to be fixed to the tractor and to extend laterally in onedirection, a connection extending rearwardly from said arm with its rearend disposed adjacent said locking means, means on said connectionadapted when the tractor turns with respect to the planter in onedirection for shifting said locking means from one position to another,and a spring connected at one end with said connection and at its otherend with the planter and adapted to shift said locking means from saidother position back to said one position when the tractor turns in theother direction with respect to said planter.

3. In a towed planter adapted to be pulled by a tractor or the like andincluding marker raising means, individually operable latches forcontrolling the lowering of said markers, a turn bar adapted to beconnected with the tractor, a chain extending rearwardly from the outerend of said bar, a spring biased toggle member adapted to shift saidlatches when the chain is shifted in one direction by the turning of thetractor relative to the planter in one'direction, a spring connectedwith the rear end of said chain and 8 relative to the planter foroperating said snap action means.

5. In a tractor planter, a pair of vertically swingable marker arms, apair of latches engageable with said arms, respectively, for lockingthem alternately in raised position, connecting means extending betweensaid latches and comprising a section disposed transversely of theplanter and connected at one end with one of the latches and at theother end with the other of the latches, said section being shiftabletrans; versely of the planter in one direction for releas ing one latchfrom its associated arm and causing the other latch to be engaged withits associated arm, a pivotally mounted lever including a laterallyshiftable portion connected with said transversely extending andtransversely shiftable section for shifting the latter from one positionto another for reversing said latches, and means for shifting saidpivotally mounted lever.

6. In a tractor towed planter, a pair of vertically swingable markerarms, a pair of latches engageable with said arms, respectively, forlooking them alternately in raised position, connecting means extendingbetween said latches and shiftable in one direction for releasing onelatch from its associated arm and causing the other latch to be engagedwith its associated arm, a pivotally mounted lever operativelyassociated with said latch-interconnecting means and adapted to beshifted from one position to another for reversing said latches, meanscarried by the planter and shiftable in opposite directions for changingthe position of said pivotally r mounted lever for reversing saidlatches, and

means responsive to the turning of the tractor relative to the planterfor operating said shifting means.

7. In a tractor towed planter, a pair of generally vertically swingablemarker arms, means on the planter for locking said arms alternatelyadapted, when the tractor is turned in the other ,means responsive tothe turning of the tractor in raised position including a pivotallymounted part swingable from one position to the other for locking one orthe other of said markers in raised position, and means responsive tothe turning of the tractor relative to the planter for changing-theposition of said-pivotally mounted means.

8. A tractor planter adapted to be connected to a tractor in trailingrelation, comprising frame means, a pair of marker arms swingablyconnected therewith, means for raising both of said marker armsincluding a chain connected to each of said arms, a pair of generallycentrally located sheaves over which said chain is trained, and a latchmeans pivotally mounted in a position generally between said sheaves andengageable alternately with one or the other of the chains at the pointwhere it passes over the associated sheave for locking the associatedmarker arm in a raised position.

9. In a tractor towed planter, frame means, a pair of marker armsswingably connected therewith, a chain connected at its outer ends withsaid arms, respectively, means for exerting a pull on said chaincomprising a forwardly swingable part mounted on said frame means, apair of sheaves mounted on said frame means in general- 1y contiguousrelation and receiving the portions of said chain that extend outwardlyto the marker arms, chain engaging mechanism comprising a detentpivotally mounted on said planter frame means and having a portionswingable from one position in which it engages one of said chainportions to another position in which it engages another chain portion,and spring means asting, to yieldably hold said detentirre'ither one orthe otherof its positions.

' I-n-.1a-. tra'ctor planter, a pairofmarker latches; a: latch operatingmember connected with. each-of said latches, ayoke connected tothe-"adjacent eIidS:0f--ea0h-' of-said latch operatingjmembers, saidyoke-having: a lostmotion connection-with each of said members, and a"Span-action mechanisms operatively, connected with said yoke forshifting; the latter-from one position to:- another:

another; anda biasingspring acting; against Said-toggle leverforcyieldahly? holdingythe' same in :one: or the-other: of itspositionsa12.- The :inven'tionrset 'forth in claim :11, further characterized by'shiitable means having: a lost motion-c0nnectionwith said toggle: leverfor shifting the-same from one 'position toward the other.

13. In a planter marker control mechanism fra'mameizns'; avtoggle leverpi'Votal'ly connected thereto, r apair of marker :armz lockingmeansadapted to be: engaged, alternately, by said tog gle lever; therebeing: an" opening in said toggle lever;:,spring; j means: acting;against I said a togglelever= for yieldablyf holding the same 1 ineither of 2' its positions and:air operatingxchairr extending: throughsaid "opening; andzcarryingabutment means on: opposite sides: rof-rsaidtoggle lever-and adaptedto shift the-latter from one position to anotherby movement of said chainin .one direction orv the; other.

' 14; In: a tractor": planteri havingl i controllable marker means,aatransve-r'sely 'disposed tur-nmontrolz. member comprising? a parthaving "an inner end and an outer end adaptedto extend laterallyoutwardly; a'ba'llmem'ber fixed .toi-theinne'r end of: said member andadaptedntoireceive th 'lfOl' wardsend' of: the planter, means for:fixing' 'said ballaand saideturn"control 'membertto the drawb'ar ofatractor; a marker controlling connection connected r with:the:laterally outwardly: disposed end of said first: mentioned member;and a planter hitch pivotally connected with isaidiball member" and.movalol'e lahout the latter relative to said turn controlrmember.

15; In a tractor towed planter, a marker controlling arm comprisinga'bar," a hitch ball fixed ta one end of'saidrbar and-lincluding a shankadapted to be connected with the 'drawbariof a tractor, means forafixing. said. ball v and bar to the tractor drawbar, means at the outerend of saidbarfor receiving a marker arm controlling part, and a"planter"hitchframeii shiftablyi connected with said'b'allI 16. Aplantefco'r'fipr'isiiig frame means apa-ir of mai'ker ar ms' swingab'lyconnected therewith, achain connectedYto eachof'- said arms, marlierraising: means connected withthee.general-1y;- centralportion of saidchain to-raise both-* of said markers, a pair of generally centrallylocated sheaves over which said chain is trained, and a latch meanspivotally mounted in a position generally between said sheaves andengageable alternately with one or the other of the chains at the pointwhere it passes over the associated ahpower actuated marker raisingmeans; a pair ofmarkerarms'swingably connected therewith, a:chainconnected to eachof said-arms, a connection-extending f-romgsaidchain to the power actuated meansa for raising bothmarkers, apair ofgenerally centrallylocatedsheavesover which sa-idchain is trainedgrand alatch means pivotal ly mounted in? a position generally betweensaidsheaves-and engageablealtern-ately with one-or the other ofthe=chainsat; the point where it 1 passes over the associated sheave forlocking the associated marker arm in araised position.

18-. A1p1antercoin-prising frame means, a pair of marker arms swingably;connected-therewith,

means for raising both of said marker arms includingea chainconnected-to each of said arms, latch means including sectionsengageable with sect-ions ofsaid 'chainforlockingthe associated marker:'in= araised'" position, biased" overcenter means for holdingsaid--latch-1means in looking position; and an-*- operating: membershiftahle from one position-to-another 'forshifting: said overcentermeans so I as, to reverse said latch; meansand release onermarker-andhold the other marker in= a raised position;

19 In a, tractor towed: planter;- f-ra-me means, a: pair of: marker;arms swingabl-y connectedther'ewith ;=.a-cchain connected-at itsouterends with-said arms;v respectively, means' for exertinga-:-:. pull; on:saidchain comprising; a forwardly swing-able --partmounted:- onsaidframe means, and means-on" said-part engagingthe generallycentralportion of said chain, a pair of sheaves over: which the sectionsof 1 the. chain extending laterally, outwardly from said central portionto said-=arms :,eXtend-,& and controllable latch mechanism actinalternatelysagainst the chain adjacentsaid-sheaves for holding-Jone orthe other of said-1 chain, sections against outward move ment, therebyholding: the: associated marker arm in" aeraised, positionr 20 For usewith a tractor towed planter or the like including framemeansand a-pairof marker arms swingably connected therewith, the' improvementcomprising-means for raising.- bothof'i said: marker arms including: achain conneoted -;toeach ofsaid -arms;-a-- pair of generally centrallylocated sheaves :over "which said chain is; trainedand a latchmeans-pivotal-lymounted lIPSJiPOSitiOH generally between said-sheavesand enga eablealternately: with one or the other of the; chains. at thepoint" where itpasses overthe -associated sheave for locking 5 theassociated marker arm iin a raised f position.

2 1; For; 11562 111 21; tractor -towed planter: or the likevincludingjframe means and a -pair of marker arms; swingably connected therewith,the immovement-comprising meansfor raising both-of said Iriarkerarmsincludingta chain connected to e'ach'f of; said arms; pairof-=generally centrally located sheaves-over .which 'said' chain -iS--trained, and-a: latchlev'er"pivotallymounted in 'a position generally:between said? sheavesr and hav'ing a' chaineeng-a'gin'gi endengageablenalternately with one or the?otherof the-ichainseatthe pointwhere it passes over the associated sheave for locking the associatedmarker arm in a raised position.

22. For use with a planter of the type adapted to be connected to andpropelled in trailing relation by a tractor and having frame means, apair of marker arms swingably connected therewith,

and "marker raising means including a pair of elements, one connectedwith each marker arm, movable adjacent one another, the improvementcomprising marker controlling means comprising latch means adapted to bemovably mounted on said frame means generally between the adjacentportions of said marker raising elements 'and engageable alternatelywith one or the other of said elements for locking the associated markerarm in a raised position, overcenter spring means acting against saidmovably mounted latch means for yieldably holding the latch means ineither of its positions, and means connected with said latch means andadapted to be connected with the tractor so as to be responsive to theturning of the tractor relative to the planter beyond a given positionfor operating said latch means to shift the latter from one position toanother. 1 V

23. For use with a planter of the type adapted to be connected to andpropelled in trailing relation by a tractor and having frame means, apair of marker arms swingably connected therewith, a chain connected toeach of said arms,

marker raising means connected with the generally central portion ofsaid chain to raise both of said markers, and a pair of generallycentrally located sheaves over which said chain is trained, theimprovement comprising marker controlling means comprising latch meansadapted to be pivotally mounted in a position generally between saidsheaves and engageable alternately with one or the other of the chainsat the point whereit passes over the associated sheave for locking theassociated marker arm in a raised position, and means adapted to beconnected with the tractor so as to be responsive to the turning of thetractor relative to the planter beyond a given position for operatingsaid latch means to shift the latter from one position to another forreleasing one or the other of said chains.

" 24. For use with a planter of the type adapted to be connected to andpropelled in trailing relation by a tractor and having frame means, apair of marker arms swingably connected therewith, i

and marker raising meansincluding a pair of elements, one connected witheach marker arm, movable adjacent one another, the improvementcomprising marker controlling means comprising latch means adapted to bemovably mounted 1 on said frame means generally between the adjacentportions of said marker raising elements and engageable alternately withone or the other of said elements for locking the associated marker armin a raised position, overcenter spring means acting against saidmovably mounted latch means for yieldably holding the latch means ineither of its positions, a turn bar adapted to be fixed to the tractorand to extend laterally in one direction, a connection adapted to extendrearwardly from said arm and connectible at its rear end with saidmovably mounted latch means, whereby turning of the tractor in onedirection with respect to the planter serves to shift said latch meansin one direction, and a spring adapted to be connected at one end withthe planter and connected at its other end with said connection wherebysaid latch means is shiftable in the other direction when the tractorturns in a direc- 12 tion opposite to said first mentioned direction;

25. For use with a tractor-towed planter in-- cluding frame means, apair of marker arms swingably connected therewith, and alternatelyoperable means for locking one or the other of said arms in elevatedposition, the improvement comprising marker control means including aturn bar adapted to be fixed to the tractor and to extend laterally inone direction, a connection adapted to be connected at its forward endwith said turn bar, a lever adapted to be pivotally connected with theplanter frame and connected with said alternately operable lockingmeans, and means connecting the rear end of said connection with saidlever.

26. The invention set forth in claim 25, further characterized by saidconnection comprising a flexible tension member connected at its rearend with said lever and operated by turning of the tractor in adirection to exert a pull through said tension member to swing saidlever in a direction to operate one of said locking means, and a springconnected at one end to said tension member and adapted to be connectedat its other end with the planter frame for swinging said lever in adirection to operate the other locking means when the tractor is turnedin the other direction.

' 27. For use with a tractor-towed planter in-' cluding frame means,means for connecting the planter to the tractor for lateral swingingrelative thereto about the point of hitch, a pair of marker armsswingably connected therewith, and alternately operable means forlocking one or the other of said arms in elevated position, theimprovement comprising marker control means including a lever adapted tobe pivotally connected with the planter frame and connected with saidalternately operable locking means, a flexible tension member connectedat its rear end with said lever and adapted to be connected at itsforward end with the tractor at one side of said hitch point to beoperated by turning of the tractor in a direction to exert a pullthrough said tension member to swing said lever in a direction tooperate one of said locking means, and a spring connected at one end tosaid tension member and adapted to be connected at its other end withthe planter frame for swinging said lever in a direction to operate theother locking means when the tractor is turned in the other direction.

CHARLES H. WHITE. WILLIAM P. OEHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 442,988 Moore Dec. 16, 1890958,567 Ulrich May 17, 1910 1,078,846 Gosnay Nov. 18, 1913 1,888,502Holstein Nov. 22, 1932 1,911,218 White May 30, 1933 2,296,210 Kriegbaumet al. Sept. 15, 1942 2,371,037 Englund Mar. 6, 1945 2,376,464 White May22, 1945

